Hé Shǒu Wū (何首乌) is one of the great Jīng (精, Essence) tonics in Chinese medicine, traditionally associated with longevity and the reversal of aging signs. The name literally means "Mr. He's Black-Haired" — referencing a famous legend in which a man named Hé (何) consumed the herb and regained his youthful black hair (首乌 Shǒu Wū, "black head") after years of frailty. The story encodes the herb's traditional association with restoring Kidney Jīng and reversing premature aging.

Botanical name: Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke (formerly Polygonum multiflorum) (Family: Polygonaceae)

Part used: Tuberous root

Nature: Slightly warm (prepared form); Cool (raw form)

Flavor: Bitter, sweet, astringent

Meridians entered: Liver, Kidney

Traditional Actions

Two forms exist with distinctly different functions:

Zhì Hé Shǒu Wū (制何首乌, Prepared Fo-Ti): Steamed with black bean juice until the interior turns dark. This prepared form tonifies the Liver and Kidney, nourishes the blood, supplements Jīng, and blackens the hair. It is the form used as a longevity tonic.

Shēng Hé Shǒu Wū (生何首乌, Raw Fo-Ti): Unprocessed. This raw form has completely different actions: it resolves toxins, moistens the intestines to relieve constipation, and addresses carbuncles and skin conditions. It does not tonify.

The distinction between raw and prepared forms is one of the clearest examples of how Pào Zhì (炮制, processing) fundamentally transforms an herb's therapeutic identity.

Key Classical Formulas

• Qī Bǎo Měi Rán Dān (七宝美髯丹, Seven-Treasure Special Pill for Beautiful Whiskers): A classical Jīng-tonifying formula featuring Hé Shǒu Wū with Gǒuqǐ Zǐ, Tù Sī Zǐ, Niú Xī, and other herbs. Used for premature aging, graying hair, weak lower back and knees.

• Shǒu Wū Yán Shòu Dān (首乌延寿丹, Fo-Ti Longevity Pill): A longevity formula emphasizing Kidney Jīng supplementation.

Daoist Significance

Hé Shǒu Wū holds particular significance in Daoist longevity practice. The herb's traditional association with preserving and restoring Jīng connects it directly to Nèidān (内丹, Internal Alchemy) — where Jīng is the foundational substance refined into Qì and ultimately into Shén. Depleted Jīng undermines the entire alchemical process. Hé Shǒu Wū was valued by Daoist practitioners as a dietary supplement that supported the physical foundation for extended cultivation practice.

Cautions

Important safety note: Raw (unprocessed) Hé Shǒu Wū has been associated with liver toxicity in modern clinical reports. The prepared form (processed with black beans) is considered significantly safer, but liver injury cases have been reported with both forms. This herb should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, with attention to proper processing and appropriate dosage duration. It is contraindicated in Spleen deficiency with dampness and diarrhea. This article describes traditional uses and does not constitute medical advice.